Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-11-10

MS unpleasant medltatlOnS along the high
way, that is easily told
He was an American, weIl-born but door,
bus friends and relatives, from the first Cd
posed his choice Of profession, declaring
the latter to be unmanly, enervating and al
together impracticable. He himself began
10 doubt his own abilities. His was plant
unreasonable nature, easily influenced by
others-not wholly from weakness but also,
because his natural lack of self-confidense
had been aggravated by mistaken course
OF early discipline which taught him always
70 yield to the opinion of his elders. The
constant reiteration of dismal prophecies
mistrust of his own talents. and. above all.
the unwilling, disappointed acquiescence of
ms parents IN his sehoice-an this caused
him to waver in the wish of his youth, and,
at last, TO abandon it.
Dlsheartened and imbittered at the
thought of foregoing the one and only real
desire OF his life, he now became drifting,
unhappy man; uncertain what to do: ap-
parendyincapable of selecting profession !;
soured as much as one of his happy DISPOSE
tons could be; unfit for any Immediate du-
ties and, yet obliged in some way or other,
to earn livelihood.
He was not one to give up in despair He
tried, first one thing, then another-not
from choice, but necessity, because he
deemed it his duty-always hating most
what he last was engaged in; and, although
now not far from thirty years of age, he
was still unsettled and, of course, unhappy
-woefully so, at times.
Finally, realizin g the seeming helplessness
of his state, he lost the will and, at length,
even the wish to decide So he resolved
upon the cowardly course of allowing mat
tiers to shape themselves and force him to
some decision.
Yet, although he professed no longer to
trouble himself as to his future like many
of those in a similar predicament, he expert
enced moments when his wasted life, his
present aimlessness, his disappointments
and unrealized hopes overwhelmed him in
all of their dismal aspects. When thus dis
turbed, OFF he would go on some long, lonely
walk, lost in gloomy reflection.
Some slight occurrence of the previous
evening had brought back the old, old trou-
bles upon him; and now, although the after
noon was far spent, he was still completely
under their influence, and the reader finds
him on the outskirts of a small country vii
1age, near Oman. in Britanny-for he had
managed to scrape together few dollars
and venture even upon trip to Europe
suffering from fit of dependency, super
induced by reflections of the foregoing
character.
Despite the fact that he could lay no
claim to good looks, Fairfax, when excited,
gained rather unusual color in his cheeks,
and his eyes were won't to flash and sparkle
with unusual brilliancy Had he not been
in such haste and so absorbed in his prep
arations for the ball, he might have
paused moment before the mirror to re-
mark the transformation in his appearance.
His high, full forehead, over which had
dropped an unruly Napoleonic forelock;
his bronzed complexion, heightened by the
unusual color of the face; his long, droop-
ing mustache, and, more especially, those,
brilliant, flashing eyes that seemed to burn
with fire in their sockets, made him, to say
the least, rather observable.
At last, he put the finishing touches to his
costume and, entering the carriage, prom
ised the coachman extra money, if the lat
ter would drive as rapidly as possible
This had been a lucky day to the young
American. Why should not luck continue.
Might it not be possible that he should meet
her there this evenings He felt almost ser
tain that he would.
s'On, as fast as you canr' called he to the
driver.
That individual, aroused by the hope of
reward, dashed his horses, until, tired as
they were, they tore along at furious pace.
Covered with foam, they dashed past the
porter's lodge, along the avenue to the
chateau, and drew up. steaming, before the
entrance.
Seeking out his friend, Dick Oxford, Fair
fax asked the latter to take him to the
Marchioness, his hostess. To her he made
his apologies.
ssPray that she may present you to the
Princess whispered Dick, in his ear.
But the old lady saw fit to leave him to
the tender mercies of remat.-I n bright.
handsome and physically-vigorous young
English girl, daughter of the Earl of Broad
acres.
So eager was Fairfax to discover If the
object of his search were in the room that,
at first. he was not even civil to the girl !;
paying little heed to her delightfully."- orig
inal and brilliant conversation.
No Natalie was anywhere to be seenl All
the guests seemed to be gathered in the
large hall The ballroom and the adjoining
rooms, too, We're deserted. Beside, he had
seen no one on the porch when he entered.
Alas she was not here! Or had gone !
He sighed profoundly; and, unconsciously,
murmured:
ssMy fater'
The English girl, who had, heretofore,
never lacked appreciative listeners, felt
piaued at his inattention and non-committal
answers She had made extra efforts to
win his interest, AID now burst forth, icily,
with the remark:
ssMr. Fairfax, you seem to forget your
self"
Thus recalled to his senses, Fairfax, after
apologizing, confessed that he expected to
meet a friend there that evening, but had
been disappointed. Too polite to inquire
whom he meant, yet mollifed by his answer,
the girl resumed her talk
Although still preserving subdued,
rather sad demeanor, that became him WON
derfully well and rendered him more inter-
estin q in the eyes of his companion, who
had now determined to satisfy her curiosity
with regard to him, Fairfax actually found
himself becoming interested in her. He
gradually came to a realizing sense OF the
brilliant conversational powers OF the beau
tiful creature who stood before him. Her
large. deep-blue eyes beamed with intelli-
gence. and were capable, he thought. OF
glowing with the passion of love, or of ter
rible anger. Tall, magnificent of physique,
crowned with profusion of brown hair ar
ranged in simple but lovely folds, her
cheeks glowing with health, she reminded
him of some grand Morse maiden whom the
old Vikings acknowledged their princess.
As he was listening to her conversation.
the light struck full upon his face from
above. Anxieties had not failed TO make
thereon their marks. Aroused as he was 10
night, and yet saddened, he appeared IKE
man of intense earnestness, laborlng under
some great sorrow which he was bravery
struggling to repress-just that sort OF
character calculated to awaken interest," III
the soul Of romantic maiden.
A large staircase wound down rom
above and touched the floor q few steps De-
yond him.
A hush suddenly seemed to come over the